10/04/2007

Have they really changed?

Crucial intelligence was wiped from a computer and police officers were uncooperative during an investigation into the first fatal shooting carried out by the PSNI, as opposed to the many by the RUC/UVF.

While Nuala O’Loan had no criticism to make of the police officer who fired the fatal shots which killed 21-year-old Neil McConville in April 2003 she did accuse the PSNI of adopting a high risk strategy in the operation which led to Mr McConville’s death.

Mrs O’Loan’s report said the tactic of pursuing the vehicle and stopping it from behind was inherently dangerous, placing both officers and suspects at risk.

She was also concerned that three officers in the control room at the time of the investigation were uncooperative with her investigation – with an inspector and sergeant refusing to be interviewed and an Acting Inspector refusing to write a witness statement when ordered to do so.

“The lack of cooperation and the attitudes displayed by these officers is totally unacceptable and will undermine public confidence in the PSNI, particularly as they are employed in such a sensitive department of the organisation,”

The Police Ombudsman warned, “Their attitude was in stark contrast to the officers involved at the incident scene, who were fully cooperative.”

It's quite simple, if any police officer of whatever rank refuses to co-operate with the Police Ombudsman then they should be sacked and denied pension rights for their time served.

This is the start of a new era in relation to policing in the North, the modus operandi has changed. If some relics of the past can't accept that then they better get out before they are pushed.